Deck 7: Courts and the Quest for Justice

Question 1

Which courts handle misdemeanors and some civil matters?

A)Courts of general jurisdiction
B)Courts of limited jurisdiction
C)Courts of unlimited jurisdiction
D)Felony courts

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A public civil officer or official with limited judicial authority within a particular geographic area, such as the authority to issue an arrest warrant, is:

A)A judge
B)A police officer
C)A magistrate
D)A public prosecutor

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The ____________ function of the court is concerned with protecting the rights of individual citizens against the power of the state.

A)Due process
B)Crime control
C)Rehabilitation
D)Bureaucratic

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Courts having original jurisdiction are courts of the first instance, or ____.

A)Appellate courts
B)Jurisdiction courts
C)State supreme courts
D)Trial courts

Question 5

The jurisdiction of every court is limited in some way.Which of the following is a limitation?

A)Courtroom space
B)Funding
C)Geography
D)Properly trained personnel

Question 6

The lowest tier of the federal court system is the:

A)County Court
B)U.S.Court of Appeal
C)Municipal Court
D)U.S.District Court

Question 7

The ____ system includes lower courts, or lower courts of limited jurisdiction, trial courts of general jurisdiction, appellate courts, and the state's highest court.

A)Federal Court
B)State Court
C)Supreme Court
D)U.S.Courts of Appeal

Question 8

The power of the law is known as:

A)Adjudication
B)The judge's prerogative
C)Jurisdiction
D)The statutes

Question 9

Which of the following courts is primarily a "reviewer" of decisions?

A)Appellate courts
B)Jurisdictional courts
C)Original jurisdiction courts
D)Trial courts

Question 10

The United States has _____________ different judicial systems.

A)Two
B)Three
C)Fifty
D)Fifty-two

Question 11

In the federal court system, there are ____ U.S.Courts of Appeal, also referred to as U.S.Circuit Courts of Appeal.

A)10
B)11
C)12
D)13

Question 12

Appellate courts:

A)Hear cases de novo
B)Determine the defendant's guilt or innocence
C)Determine questions of fact
D)Determine questions of law

Question 13

Drug courts, juveniles courts, domestic courts, and elder courts are all examples of:

A)Municipal Courts
B)Probate Courts
C)Specialty Courts
D)Trial Courts of General Jurisdiction

Question 14

The court's legitimacy is based on two factors: impartiality and ____.

A)Independence
B)The judge's prerogative
C)Jurisdiction
D)The statutes

Question 15

Within the State Court system, the highest appellate court is usually called the ______________.

A)Intermediate Appellate Courts
B)Municipal Court
C)State Supreme Court
D)Superior Court

Question 16

Appellate court judges make a decision on whether a case should be:

A)Retried or additional charges pressed
B)Reversed and remanded
C)Reviewed by a higher court
D)Reviewed by another lower court

Question 17

The decisions of the Circuit Courts of Appeal are final unless the matter is brought before the:

A)Annual caucus for the federal leading judge for each district
B)Congress - House of Representatives first and the Senate second
C)Congressional Conference Committee
D)United States Supreme Court

Question 18

The federal court system is basically a three-tiered model consisting of all of the following except:

A)U.S.Court of Appeals
B)U.S.District Courts
C)U.S.Justice of the Peace
D)U.S.Supreme Courts

Question 19

Statements in which judges express the reasons for the court's decision in a case are:

A)Verdicts
B)Opinions
C)Rulings
D)Oral arguments

Question 20

The ______________ function of the court is concerned with speed and efficiency.

A)Due process
B)Crime control
C)Rehabilitation
D)Bureaucratic

Question 21

A ____ opinion is a separate opinion prepared by judges who support the decision of the majority of the court but who want to express their own particular reasoning.

A)Concurring
B)Dissenting
C)Duces tecum
D)Writ of certiorari

Question 22

The U.S.Supreme Court consists of ____ justices.

A)7
B)8
C)9
D)10

Question 23

The United States Supreme Court will not issues a writ of certiorari unless at least __________ justices approve of it.

A)3
B)4
C)6
D)9

Question 24

In the courtroom work group, who is responsible for maintaining the large amount of paperwork generated during a trial, including transcripts, photographs, evidence, and any other records?

A)Bailiff
B)Clerk of court
C)Court reporter
D)Prosecutor

Question 25

The U.S.Supreme Court orders a lower court to send it the record of a case for review.This is done with a ____.

A)Subpoena
B)Writ of habeas corpus
C)Writ of duces tecum
D)Writ of certiorari

Question 26

During the pretrial, the ____ takes on the role of the negotiator.

A)Defense attorney
B)Judge
C)Prosecutor
D)Public defender

Question 27

U.S.Supreme Court Justices may disagree with the Court's conclusion.They may:

A)Write a concurring opinion
B)Write an oral briefing to outline the differences
C)Write a dissenting opinion
D)Write a "white paper" that outlines their dissent

Question 28

The ____ is the chief law officer of a state; also, the chief law officer of the nation.

A)Attorney general
B)Court justice
C)Judge
D)Public prosecutor

Question 29

The level of charge to be brought against a suspect is determined by the

A)Judge
B)Jury
C)Arresting officer
D)Prosecutor

Question 30

All of the following are pretrial responsibilities of the prosecutor, EXCEPT:

A)Issuing search and arrest warrants
B)Determining whether an individual who has been arrested by the police will be charged with a crime
C)Determining the level of the charges to be brought against the suspect
D)Determining if and when to stop the prosecution if a suspect

Question 31

In the courtroom work group, who is responsible for recording every word that is said during the course of trial?

A)Bailiff
B)Clerk of court
C)Court reporter
D)Prosecutor

Question 32

Of the courtroom work group, who relies on the police to arrest suspects and gather sufficient evidence, and police rely upon them to convict those who have been apprehended?

A)Defense attorney
B)Judge
C)Public defender
D)Prosecutor

Question 33

The Missouri Plan is also known as:

A)A partisan election process
B)A nonpartisan election process
C)An appointment process
D)Merit selection

Question 34

When the trial starts, the judge takes on the role of the:

A)Teacher
B)Referee
C)Negotiator
D)Administrator

Question 35

One drawback of the Missouri Plan is:

A)The process often results in the placement of unethical judges
B)Voters lack knowledge of the issues and the candidates
C)The process is often too heavily influenced by politics
D)Because there is no retention election, the process lacks checks and balances

Question 36

What is the title of the list of cases entered on a court's calendar and thus scheduled to be heard by the court?

A)Arraignment
B)Court calendar
C)Docket
D)Writ of certiorari

Question 37

In the courtroom work group, who is responsible for maintaining security and order in the judge's chambers and in the courtroom?

A)Bailiff
B)Clerk of court
C)Court reporter
D)Prosecutor

Question 38

An election where a political party such as the Republicans or Democrats openly support a candidate for a judgeship is known as a(n):

A)Nonpartisan election
B)Open election
C)Partisan election
D)Primary election

Question 39

When judges are responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the court, they are acting as:

A)Teachers
B)Administrators
C)Clerks of the courts
D)Referees

Question 40

During the pretrial process, the ____ holds a great deal of discretion as to whether an individual who has been arrested by the police will be charged with a crime, the level of the charges to be brought against the suspect, and if and when to stop the prosecution.

A)Defense attorney
B)Judge
C)Public defender
D)Public prosecutor

Question 41

Most states have local trial courts that usually keep no written record of the trial proceedings and a judge rather than a jury decides cases.Defendants have fewer rights than those in other trial courts.

Question 42

The prosecutor will decide whether an individual who has been arrested by the police will be charged with a crime, the level of charges to be brought against the suspect, and if and when to stop the prosecution.

Question 43

Every state has at least one court of appeals (known as an appellate, or reviewing, court).

Question 44

Which amendment provides for the right to counsel?

A)The Fourth Amendment
B)The Fifth Amendment
C)The Sixth Amendment
D)The Eighth Amendment

Question 45

There is no absolute right to appeal to the United States Supreme Court.

Question 46

About ___ percent of all criminal defendants in the United States are represented by public defenders or other appointed counsel.

A)50
B)75
C)90
D)95

Question 47

The attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer in any state.

Question 48

The primary responsibility of the ____ is to represent the defendant at various stages of the custodial process, such as arrest, interrogation, lineup, and arraignment.

A)Court justice
B)Defense attorney
C)Judge
D)Public prosecutor

Question 49

The Supreme Court unanimously held that "any person haled into court, who is too poor to hire a lawyer, cannot be assured a fair trial unless counsel is provided for him." This case was:

A)Furman v.Georgia
B)Gideon v.Wainwright
C)Strickland v.Washington
D)United States v.Zolin

Question 50

Trial courts are primarily concerned with questions of law.

Question 51

The clerk of the court has an exhausting list of responsibilities, including recording every word that is said in the courtroom.

Question 52

As most cases are decided through plea bargains rather than through trial proceedings, the judge often offers his or her services as a negotiator to help the prosecution and the defense "make a deal."

Question 53

The United States does not have a single judicial system, but 52 different systems-one for each state, the District of Columbia, and the federal government.

Question 54

An appellate court will rarely question a jury's decision; instead, the appellate judges will review the manner in which the facts and evidence were provided to the jury, and rule on whether errors were made in the process.

Question 55

Attorney-client privilege does not apply when:

A)The client provides information on a crime that he or she plans to commit
B)The client admits to a past offense
C)The client admits to murder
D)The client admits to particularly heinous crimes including torture

Question 56

Supreme Court Justices may write concurring opinions, outlining the reason why they feel the majority's decision erred.

Question 57

If a defendant provides less than truthful information there is no attorney-client privilege.

Question 58

The judge is the dominant figure in the courtroom workgroup.

Question 59

Generally speaking, there are two different types of defense attorneys: (1) private attorneys, who are hired by individuals, and (2) public defenders who work for the government.

Question 60

In the federal court system, there are nine U.S.Courts of Appeal.

Question 61

List and describe the members of the courtroom work group.

Question 62

In ________________ elections a judicial candidate declares allegiance to a political party.

Question 63

Each courtroom has a ________________, or calendar of cases.

Question 64

What is jurisdiction? Explain briefly the difference between geographic and subject matter jurisdiction.

Question 65

What are the responsibilities of the defense attorney?

Question 66

Many states have created __________________ which retain jurisdiction over very narrowly defined areas of criminal justice.

Question 67

The power to "speak the law" refers to ___________________________.

Question 68

A rule that the United States Supreme Court will not issue of writ of certiorari unless at least four justices approve it is known as the _________________________.

Question 69

Explain how a case is brought before the Supreme Court.

Question 70

List the different names given to public prosecutors and indicate the general powers that they have.